General versus spinal anesthesia in joint arthroplasties

Over the last decades demographic changes and high success rates have continued to increase the utilization of total joint replacements with estimates of continued dramatic growth. It has become obvious that given this often elderly and comorbidity ridden patient population joint arthroplasties have exerted significant medical and economic stresses on the health care system. In this context, the identification of intervention with the goal to improving perioperative outcomes has become more important than ever.